--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the great lessons I learned about…" description: "\"One of the great lessons I learned about historical fiction from writing 'Loving Frank' is that you don't try to disguise what people did; my approach ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png" --- # One of the great lessons I learned about historical… ![“One of the great lessons I learned about historical fiction from writing 'Loving Frank' is that you don't try to disguise what people did; my approach was to try to understand the characters and why they did what they did.” quote by Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png) > “One of the great lessons I learned about historical fiction from writing 'Loving Frank' is that you don't try to disguise what people did; my approach was to try to understand the characters and why they did what they did.” [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical fiction should reveal characters’ true motives rather than hide them behind plot. **In simple terms:** Show characters’ real motives. Key Takeaway Write with honesty. Themes history character writing Mood thoughtful instructive Type literary educational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - teaching history Key Concepts narrative truth empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance factual accuracy with narrative? - What methods reveal authentic motives? A Different Perspective Focusing on motives may oversimplify complex events. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disguise/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-lessons-1170495/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-fiction/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned/) [Learned Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-historical-2142756/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Loving Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-frank-1980178/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Try to understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-to-understand/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Understand Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-characters-1112504/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > ['Loving Frank' is about a forbidden love affair between two people who lived a hundred years ago - Frank Lloyd Wright and his married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/loving-frank-is-about-a-forbidden-love-affair-between-two-people-who/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [I think the idea is to try and understand everything about the characters and where the character is coming from, from their point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-think-the-idea-is-to-try-and-understand-everything-about-the/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Sometimes you don't really understand the characters you do. I don't need to. Most of the behavior is obscure and I don't mind that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-huppert/sometimes-you-don-t-really-understand-the-characters-you-do-i-don-t/) [Isabelle Huppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-huppert/) > [Because I grew up in Africa, I always see people and try to understand characters as what kind of animal they'd be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-grant/because-i-grew-up-in-africa-i-always-see-people-and-try-to-understand/) [Richard E. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-grant/) > [It's through the voice that I tend to figure out the character (and through dialogue that I come to understand other characters).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-wayne/it-s-through-the-voice-that-i-tend-to-figure-out-the-character-and/) [Teddy Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-wayne/) > [I always have to find things that I relate to and understand in the characters that I play; otherwise, it won't feel that authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/i-always-have-to-find-things-that-i-relate-to-and-understand-in-the/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [The more you understand me, the less characters I can play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skeet-ulrich/the-more-you-understand-me-the-less-characters-i-can-play/) [Skeet Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skeet-ulrich/) > [Without sounding defensive, I would say that sometimes TV critics assume that after a few episodes the writers 'finally understand the characters,' and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/without-sounding-defensive-i-would-say-that-sometimes-tv-critics/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [To my way of thinking, whether it's a superhero movie or a romance or a comedy or whatever, the most important thing is you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/to-my-way-of-thinking-whether-it-s-a-superhero-movie-or-a-romance-or/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [The most important thing for me in an action sequence is, you understand the characters' intention and the challenges the characters are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kinberg/the-most-important-thing-for-me-in-an-action-sequence-is-you/) [Simon Kinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kinberg/) > [I don't always understand my characters. I write to understand them better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/i-don-t-always-understand-my-characters-i-write-to-understand-them/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [A lot of readers want characters to behave in a responsible way, or they want to understand the characters' dilemma and act, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-minot/a-lot-of-readers-want-characters-to-behave-in-a-responsible-way-or/) [Susan Minot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-minot/) > [A judicious reticence is hard to learn, but it is one of the great lessons of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/a-judicious-reticence-is-hard-to-learn-but-it-is-one-of-the-great/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which, was that you can fail at what you don't want so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-learned-many-great-lessons-from-my-father-not-the-least-of-which/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“There are often great lessons to be learned at the roots of stress, drama, and heartache. Don’t let the magnitude of the circumstance blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/there-are-often-great-lessons-to-be-learned-at-the-roots-of-stress/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More by Nancy Horan > [“There's not a word I can say to you that you have not already though of, Mamah... There are ways to hold the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/there-s-not-a-word-i-can-say-to-you-that-you-have-not-already-though/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > ['Loving Frank' is about a forbidden love affair between two people who lived a hundred years ago - Frank Lloyd Wright and his married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/loving-frank-is-about-a-forbidden-love-affair-between-two-people-who/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“If Catherine would just let go' had been their mantra for so long. Now Mamah understood Catherine's dilemma better. 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To feel that feeling where a man you hardly know gazes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/don-t-you-see-what-s-happened-you-wanted-to-be-in-love-again-to-feel/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [If someone had told me in high school that one day I'd write an historical novel, I would have rolled my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/if-someone-had-told-me-in-high-school-that-one-day-i-d-write-an/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“Why is the heart that is broken considered so much more valuable than the one or the two who must cause the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/why-is-the-heart-that-is-broken-considered-so-much-more-valuable-than/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [How small we humans are. All our scrambling around, trying to buttress ourselves against death. All our efforts to insulate ourselves against uncertainty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/how-small-we-humans-are-all-our-scrambling-around-trying-to-buttress/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“Your life doesn't belong to just you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/your-life-doesn-t-belong-to-just-you/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“I'm like the trunk of a cactus, I suppose." she told him. "I take in a dose of culture and time with friends, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/i-m-like-the-trunk-of-a-cactus-i-suppose-she-told-him-i-take-in-a/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“When both lovers yearn to become entirely one being, to free each other and to develop each other to the greatest perfection, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/when-both-lovers-yearn-to-become-entirely-one-being-to-free-each/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“Take my love for granted," he said, "and I shall do the same for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/take-my-love-for-granted-he-said-and-i-shall-do-the-same-for-you/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“It seemed to me that boys had a lot more fun. It was a relief. I didn't look at myself from the outside. 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Together own one glad ideal, Together laugh, together ache, And think one thought- "Each other's sake," And hope one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/together-greet-life-s-solemn-real-together-own-one-glad-ideal/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [I guess I'm drawn to artists and literary people and want to learn about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/i-guess-i-m-drawn-to-artists-and-literary-people-and-want-to-learn/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) [Explore all 51 Nancy Horan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the great lessons I learned about historical fiction from writing 'Loving Frank' is that you don't try to disguise what people did; my approach was to try to understand the characters and why they did what they did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nancy Horan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about-historical-fiction-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about-historical-fiction-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/nancy-horan-13138_about_one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about_2624952.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the great lessons I learned about historical fiction from writing 'Loving Frank' is that you don't…” — Nancy Horan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nancy Horan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the great lessons I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about-historical-fiction-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/one-of-the-great-lessons-i-learned-about-historical-fiction-from/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```